No Return Ticket Leg One by Captain Skip Rowland

Author:Captain Skip Rowland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Adventure Island Publishing
Published: 2017-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 25

NUKA HIVA—WE MADE IT!

Late afternoon, May 15th, we crawled carefully through coral heads into Taiohae Bay, our last anchorage before pushing on to the Tuamotus en route to Tahiti. It was time for some reflection.

In my California business career I was caught up, like a lot of guys, in winning the corporate battle, rewarded by the hedonistic self-indulgence that followed. It took years of fermentation to adjust to and accommodate the distant goal of drifting and blending. I knew I could find a better life, with more wholesome values, where money plus power were not the guiding purpose of life—as I felt it had become in America. I can’t say for 100% certainty I’ve discovered utopia by cruising, though it’s a different world.

Compared to America’s affluence, we have seen a lot of poverty. What amazed me was how happy people were living in those conditions. True enough, they hadn’t seen the other side and didn’t know greed, jealousy, rage, or the lack of confidence that results. The unit I’d come to admire was a strong family—much stronger than the majority of American households. I’ve observed a good balance between work and recreation, family and church.

Other cruisers are interesting. Mostly couples in their thirties through early fifties who’ve broken free of jobs for extended ‘rest’ periods or just plain sold out, as I had. Powerful medicine if you had the guts to take a swig. There are also pocket cruisers, folks who lack the substantial financing for an undertaking like this, but had marketable talent. Most in demand were mechanics, sail makers, or carpenters. The best tradesman sailor was a refrigeration mechanic. Ice cubes have massive value in the tropics.

Nine yachts shared Taihoae Bay, none of them mega yachts. For owner’s pride, by the way, we call any vessel capable of coming this far, a yacht—be it big, small, lavish, or fundamental. Looking around, there was one from Brazil, one from the Grand Caymans, another from France (wonder if he posted a bond), one from Mexico, and even one from Japan. The others were US flag. In common we shared a serious desire to survive, the wish to see the world, and most of us to make a positive difference in the world. It wasn’t corporate collateral, and I, for sure, wanted to be a part of that legacy. Cruising folks I met, were self-sufficient, rugged, and compassionate people who didn’t take well to being controlled.

We enjoyed sharing knowledge and resources, which earned coveted mutual respect. We shared charts, plans, dreams, fears, and experiences and somehow managed to arrive here—a long way from the boardroom conference table. Adventurers I’ve shared company with were different than people at home, who too often ignore the plight of others as they scramble for survival in a greed-cluttered world. Because of our lifestyle, cruisers were relaxed and different—yet alike in pursuing a romantic lifestyle. OK, enough pontificating. Not surprisingly, the cost of cruising was a favorite discussion topic. None of us anticipated Pacific Franc pricing.

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